A retired professor was defrauded of approximately 2 crore rupees through a WhatsApp group. Scammers lured him with a fake website and investment schemes, initially building trust by showing profits.
WhatsApp Scam: Your WhatsApp is not just a means of chatting, but it has also become the biggest weapon for cyber fraudsters. A recent case has opened people's eyes—a retired professor from Andhra Pradesh was defrauded of around 1.9 crore rupees by fraudsters through a WhatsApp group. The surprising thing is that this fraud involved fake websites, genuine branding, and well-thought-out psychological tricks.
How was the fraud worth crores of rupees committed?
Dr. M. Batmanabane Mounissamy, who resides in Andhra Pradesh and is a former director of JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research), Pondicherry, was added to a group called 'H-10 Nuvama' on WhatsApp one day. This group claimed to be related to health and investment guidance, and it promised insider tips and expert advice on Nuvama Funds (formerly Edelweiss).
Since the professor already knew about this company and had also invested in its funds, he considered the group legitimate and decided to proceed.
Real company's name, fake trust
The professor had already invested money in Nuvama (Edelweiss) investment funds, so he considered this group to be genuine. To reinforce this trust, a woman named "Kangna" spoke to him in a personal chat and introduced herself as an authorized representative of the company.
Kangna sent him a link to a fake website that looked exactly like the real company's website. The professor made an initial investment of 10,000 rupees and was immediately shown a return of 13,000 rupees. This was the scammers' first victory—the seed of trust had been sown.
1.9 crore rupees of trust... and a big deception
Over the next 5 weeks, the professor steadily increased his investment. The fake website showed him high performance and heavy returns on stocks. Even his account balance was shown to be 35 crore rupees.
But when he tried to withdraw 5 crore rupees, the scammers said that he would have to pay a processing fee first. Initially, the demand was 32 lakhs, later reduced to 25%. The professor sent another 7.9 lakh rupees, but he still didn't get any money.
The second face of the lie: fake officials and a new excuse
The fraudsters now made another cunning move—they introduced him to a senior official named 'Ashish Kehair,' who also made many false promises. But the money was not returned.
Now, the professor was completely convinced that this was a well-planned cyber fraud operation. He has lodged a complaint with the police, and the matter is under investigation.
What does this scam teach?
1. Joining WhatsApp groups can also be risky
Before joining an unfamiliar group, check its purpose, members, and admins.
2. A small profit is shown to set a big trap
Initial profits are often a tactic of scammers. The temptation of immediate returns can turn into a real shock.
3. Identify fake websites
Checking the spelling, SSL certificate (https://), and official app of the real website is essential.
4. Processing fees = Fraud alert
Demanding fees to withdraw money from an investment is itself a sign of fraud.
Cyber security experts' warning
Cyber experts say that AI and fake chatbots are now also being used in this type of scam.
- Cloning of branded websites
- Use of real names
- Trust-inspiring language on WhatsApp
All this can mislead anyone.
How to avoid such WhatsApp scams?
- Leave unknown groups immediately
- Confirm the official website and app before any investment
- Avoid the temptation of immediate returns
- Immediately report to the Cyber Crime helpline 1930
- Seek advice from family or a financial advisor before any financial transaction
